Receptacle



Feb. 20, 1968 J. D WILSON 26350 Original Filed March 9, 1964 MA. Java United States Patent 0 26,356 RFCEPTACLE James D. Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Banner Metals, Inc., Compton, Calif., 21 corporation of Ohio Original No. 3,219,232, dated Nov. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 350,246, Mar. 9, 1964. Application for reissue June 8, 1966, Ser. No. 562,972

6 flaiins. (Cl. 220-97) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention relates to trays or receptacles which may, for example, be formed of PlZlnllC or sheet metal; the receptacles being constructed so that they may be stacked on one another when full of merchandise, and so that they may be nested down into one another when empty.

The receptacle of the invention are intended primarily for use in the food industry, although they have general application wherever space must be conserved in plants, trucks and stores, especially alter the receptacles have been emptied.

The receptacles of the invention may be used, for exampic, in transporting and displaying halzcry goods. For cxample, the receptacles may be loaded at the bakery and then stacked on top of one another. The stacked receptacles may then be transported to the retail store or market. They are then positioned in the store or market so that the merchandise therein may be displayed and purchased. \Vhcn the receptacles are empty, they are nested down into one another for space conservation purposes, and are then returned to the bakery.

The particular nestable and stacsable receptacle to be described herein is advantageous in that it is capable of being nested or stacked without the need for movable bails or other movable par s. l lorcovcr, the improved rcccptaclc to be described nests and stacks with like receptLtClcs in vertical alignment for optimum space conservation when in either the loaded, stacked condition; or when in the empty, nested condi ion.

An object oi the present invention is to provide an improved nestablc and staclruhle receptacle which may be formed of molded p astic, or sheet metal. so as to be light, rugged and inexpensive in its construction.

Another object oi the invention is to provide such an improved ncstuble 11nd staclcablc rcceptztclc which is capablc of being stacked wi h other like receptacles into a rigid and stable tier; and of being nested with othcr like receptacles when empty, and without the need for movable bails or other movable parts.

Yet another obicct of the invention is to provide such an improved receptacle which is constructed so that the merchandise therein is readily accessible when the receptacle is stacked into :1 tier with other like receptacles, in that the merchandise may he removed from any of the stacked receptacles without disturbing the othcr receptacles in the ticr.

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Re. 26,350 Reissued Feb. 20, 1968 A iurthcr object of the invention is to provide such an improved receptacle which is constructed to have end and side walls with regular and smooth inner surfaces, so that there is no tendency to crush soft merchandise, such as loaves of bread, which may be placed in the receptacle.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an improved nestable and stackable receptacle which may be manipulated from a stacked to a nested condition, and vice verso, with other like receptacles, by means of a simple operation, and without any need to rotate the rcceptaclc relative to the other receptacles, or to manipulate the rcccptaclc excessively.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved ncstablc and stackablc receptacle which is constructed to have a relatively small differential between its inner and outer dimensions, as compared with other receptaclcs of the same general type, so that waste space is reduced to a minimum.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a rcccptaclc constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corncr of the receptacle of l lGURll 1 and illustrating how the receptacle may be stacked on a like receptacle; and

FlGURE 3 is a fragmentary vicw illustrating the manner the receptacle nests down into other like receptacles.

As mentioned above, the improved receptacle of the present invention may be composed of a molded plastic or sheet metal construction. With such a construction, the bottom and walls of the receptacle are formed integral as a oucpiecc structure. When it is made of plastic, the rcccptaclc can be formed by a usual plastic molding operation. in the construction of the receptacle, the sides and bottom may be apcrturcd, as shown, to reduce the weight of the receptacle, and also to enable the contents of the receptacle to be observable from the exterior of the receptacle.

As shown in the drawings, the ncstnblc and stack-able rcccptacle oi the present invention includes a bottom 10. it also includes a pair of side walls 12 and 14 extending upwardly from the bottom, and a pair of end walls 16 and 18. The cud walls to and 13 also extend upwardly from the bottom, and the walls 12, 14, 16 and 18 define an open top for the reccptaclc.

As shown in the drawing, the wall 18 has n fore-shortcucd height, so 211; to permit access to the interior of the receptacle. This means that when a plurality of like receptacles are stacked on one another, the merchandise in the individual receptacles can be removed, without disturbing the stack or tier.

in accordance with the invention, the sides are configured so that a pair oi vertically extending channels 20 are formcd in each of the side walls 12 and 14 to be respectively adjacent the corners ol'thc receptacle. These channels are formed in the internal surface of each of the side walls, and each has a lower end portion which defines a shoulder 22. In each channel 20, the shouldcr 22 is displaced upwardly from the bottom 10 of the receptacle. Each of the sides 12 and 14 has an upper cdg these being designated 24 and 26 respectively. The upper edges 24 and 26 extend from one side of the corresponding channels 20 to overlie a portion of each channel. The remaining portion of the channel defines a vertical clcarway which cxtends down from the top of the receptacle to the shoulder 22. The channel 20 is formed, in each instance, by con figuring th: plastic, or sheet metal, to have an outwardly projecting portion 2%, as shown, for example, in FIG- IJRFS l and 2.

The bottom has a plurality of outwardly extending portions 30 in axial alignment with respective portions of the top edges which overlie corresponding portions of the vertical channels 29. As illustrated, each of the outwardly extending portions 30 has a slot 32 formed in it, and these slots receive corresponding projections 34 which extend upwardly from the overlying portions of: the top cdges 2-3 and 26 adjacent the clearway of each channel 20.

Further in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, each vertical channel is configured (as best shown in FIGURE 2) to incorporate an intermediate shoulder 40 which extends partially across the channel to one side of the aforesaid clcarway, and in axial alignment with the respective portions of the aforesaid upper edges, which overlie a part of each channel 20.

The side of the clearway portion of each channel 20 remote from the shoulder 40 is formed to have a shouldcr 42. This shoulder facilitates the manipulation of the receptacles when they are moved from a stacked to a nested position, and the shoulders 40 and 42 in each of the channels 20 also permit trays to be suspended in the illustrated receptacle. Such trays are provided with cars which extend into the channels 20 and engage the shoulders 40 and 42 at each corner, so as to constitute an inter mediate shelf in the receptacle, when such is desired.

it will be appreciated that when one receptacle is to be stacked on another, the upper receptacle is merely placed over the lower receptacle in position such that the upper projections 34 of the lower receptacle are received in the slots 32 of the upper receptacle (FIGURE 2.). This pro vides for a rigid, firm and stable relationship between the two stacked receptacles, so that a plurality of like receptacles may be so stacked to form a stable and rigid tier. When the receptacles are in the stacked position, and as mentioned above, merchandise may be removed from any one of the receptacles without disturbing the tier, this being achieved through the open ends provided by the fore-shortened end wall 18.

When an upper receptacle is to be nested down into a lower receptacle, the upper receptacle is moved upwardly from the lower receptacle so that its slots 32 are disengaged from the projections 34 of the lower receptacle. The upper receptacle is then moved horizontally towards the open fore-shortened end 18, so that its bottom projecting portions lie over the clearway portions of the corresponding channels 20. The upper receptacle can then he dropped down into the lower receptacle until its bottom projecting portions 30' engage the corresponding shoulders 22 at the bottom of the channels in the lower receptacle (FIGURE 3). The upper receptacle is then moved into axail alignment with the lower receptacle, such that its shoulder 22 moves along the shoulder of the lower receptacle, and its projections 30' move along the shoulder 22 of the lower receptacle. During this relationship, the shoulder 40 of the upper receptacle engages the overlying portion of the upper edge of the lower receptacle.

in the manner described in the preceding paragraph, as many receptacles are desired may he nested into one another in a vertical stack. It will be appreciated that the receptacle described above may be stacked in vertical alignment so as to form a stable tier, and they may be nested in vertical alignment (FIGURE 3) so as to provide an optimum space conversing characteristic when nested.

Also, the configuration of the receptacle is such, and as best seen in FIGURE 1. that soft goods, such as loaves of bread. may be stored in the receptacle adjacent the side and end walls thereof without any tendency to crush the merchandise due to internal projections in the walls of the receptacles.

It will also be appreciated that the receptacles may be adju ted from a stnclted to a nested position, merely by a slight manipulating motion, and without any need for J rotation of one receptacle with respect to the other, or for other awkward nesting manipulations.

it will also be appreciated that the differential between the inner dimension and outer dimension of :ie rece tacle is kept to a minimum, again to provide for optimum space usage.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made. It is intended. to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope of the invention in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

I. A unitary nestahle and staeltlc receptacle including: a bottom; side walls integral with said bottom and with one another, said side walls extending upwardly from said bottom and having an upper edge defining an open top for the receptacle; said side walls being shaped to dciine stacking and nesting means for the receptacle, and each of said stacking and nesting means projecting outwar- 3 from the plane of the corresponding wall to dcline a support shoulder {parallel to the plane of said bottom and] spaced upwardly Ktherclrom] from mid honour, a channel extending to the upper edge of the corresponc ing wall, a lirst supporting member disposed [below and} to one side of said channel having a lower surface extending out from the plane of the corresponding side wall adjacent said bottom and said first supporting member extending upwardly towards said support shoulder with a taper which extends inwardly towards the plane of the corresponding side wall, a second supporting member disposed to one side of said channel in vertical align meat with said first supporting member and having an upper surface [formed by a por tion of said support. shoulder] and said second supporting member extending upwardly towards the upper edge of the corresponding side wall with a taper extending inwardly towards the plane of the corresponding side wall, and means ClCiinli'lg an upper supporting member adjacent the upper edge of the corresponding side wall in vertical alignment with said lower surface of said first supporting member; whereby said lower surface of said lirst supporting member engages said upper supporting member when a pair of like receptacles are in a stacked position, and said lower surface of said first supporting member engages said upper surface of said second supporting member when a pair of like receptacles are in a nested position.

2. The receptacle defined in claim 1 which includes a third supporting member disposed to one side of said channel in vertical alignment with and above said first and second supporting mcmhcrs and having a lower surface extending out from the plane of the corresponding side wall to form an intermediate stacking member, and said third supporting member extending upwardly to the upper edge of said corresponding side wall with a taper extending inwardly towards the plane of the corresponding side wall.

3. The receptacle defined in claim 1 in which said bottom and side walls are formed of a molded plastic material.

4. "lhe receptacle defined in claim 1 in which said lower surface of said first supporting member includes an aperture, and in which said upper supporting member has an upwardly projecting portion in vertical alignment with said aperture.

5. A unitary treatable and Mac/table receptacle including: a bottom; side walls integral with said bottom and with one (mother, said side walls extemdr'ng IIPH llI'd/j from said bottom and having an upper edge defining all open top for the receptacle,- sairl side wail; being shaped to define stacking and nesting means for the rccepmcfc, and each of said stacking, w ld nesting means projecting outwardly from the plane of the corresponding wall to define a support shoulder spacer! upwardly from said bottom, a channel (.t'fUIM/fl'lt, to HIV upper edge f the r'r)rrmymnrliug wrr/l. (i first supporting iiltIIl/lt) disposal to one side 0/ said (lid/inc! having a [Oltti surface extending out from the plane of the corresponding side wall adjacent said bottom, a second supporting member disposed to one side of said channel in vertical alignment with said first supporting member and having an upper surface and means defining an upper supporting member adjacent the upper edge of the corresponding side wall in vertical alignment with said lower surface of said first supporting member; whereby said lower surface of said first supporting member engages said upper supporting member when a pair of like receptacles are in a stacked position, and said lower surface of said first supporting member engages said upper surface of said second supporting member when a pair of like receptacles are in a nested position.

6. A container adapted to be stacked with a container of identical shape or variably nested therein comprising, a bottom, a pair of opposed side walls sloping inwardly toward each other from top to bottom and joined at their lower edges to said bottom, a single rear end wall sloping inwardly from top to bottom and joining said opposed side walls to thereby form in combination with said bottom and side walls a merchandise transport and display tray; said side walls including variable nesting means formed on the inner and outer surfaces of said side walls; said variable nesting means comprising at least a pair of vertically disposed channels formed in each of said side walls, said channels being recessed outwardly from the plane defined by each of said side walls, and including a plurality of vertically aligned protruding inner support shoulders extending inu 'ardly from the outer wall of each of said channels, and at least one outer support shoulder positioned on the outside surface of the side walls immediately behind said inner support shoulders, said inner support shoulders providing a plurality of intermediate nesting levels so that the outer support shoulders of a similar container may he slidably engaged therewith to provide a desired predetermined space between the bottoms of nested containers related to the height of the merchandise to be transported and displaced in said container.

References Cited THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. G. E. LOWRANCE, Assistant Examiner. 

